Reception Vs. Vow Renewal?

 Lately I've been on the forums to figure out the etiquette for a vow renewal. I thought this might be a possibility for our reception. I found out some pretty good points on the subject on the I do Take Two's website, specializing in topics such as vow renewals and second marriages.

So basically, we will not be renewing our vows. They are already new! The reception is held a within a year after the wedding, so it is still considered a wedding reception. Renewing our vows at this point would be silly, showy, and utterly useless, especially since the fluff is what I did not want in the first place*.

Instead, we are CELEBRATING! Since we didn't have a reception, we didn't get a chance to party with ALL of you! I was worried that I needed to give our guests something to see, something a bit on the formal side, assuring that they would arrive in time and not roll up late, thinking they are going to just a "party." We will be introduced, have some readings, maybe a video of our wedding pictures (which are hilarious, by the way) and then proceed to celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music! Another spoiler: Shawn's learning one pf my fave Tom Petty song to play and he is practicing his breakdancing. Let's hope he doesn't break anything in the process. And, I am working round the clock on decor and have a signature adult beverage to be featured.

...Because marriage is not about the wedding day, but the day after, and the day after that....(got that off of idtaketwo.com!! golden!)

It makes me really relieved to verify things with etiquette experts.

Just remember:
Your wedding day, the day you exchanged your vows, is your wedding day. I had a friend actually tell me, she didn't think my wedding was a real wedding since I didn't do the traditional ceremonies. I thought it was rude at the time she said it but me personal etiquette would not let me call her out. I mean, we got married by a Baptist minister in a church and we had a marriage license! The nerve! Sure there were nine people there including us, and it was nine in the morning on a Friday, but we made the deal of a lifetime.....

*but, hey, if you want the fluff, you should have it! I've worked hard to give my friends and my sis the fluffiest, most fun wedding day they've ever dreamed of. I'm not against it the least bit, but I like it mostly when other people do it. I am a bit demure when it comes to traditional hoopla for myself, but am totes by the book when it comes to my friends!